My Quick Thoughts: Regarding this title, I am not sure it fits in the theme.. but…. 🙂 Anyways, this was another of the nonfiction books I read as part of the Cybils readathon late last year.

Helen Skelton is so inspiring! She believes that anything is possible; and sets out to achieve just about everything! From kayaking solo in the Amazon (and 2000 miles at that) to traveling to the south pole, Skelton has been on many adventures that can daunt the average reader. But fear not, for she provides more down to earth (yet challenging) alternatives for her readers.

Each of her adventures includes a description of the feat, sidebars with notes on the challenges as well as interesting facts and comments about her personal experiences with the same. And of course, those suggestions for related yet challenging activities that readers can do! I love that she also includes necessary equipment, safety tips, and suggestions on how to train for the challenge. Loads of photos and colorful illustrations accompany the narrative and provide more information.

The book is certainly inspiring, and can encourage young girls (and older ones too) to seek adventure.

Source: Review copy from Netgalley and my personal copy (provided by publishers for the Cybils readathon)

For anyone who loves to read about adventures to the Amazon, the South Pole, or the Namib Desert by actress and adventurer, Helen Skelton, you're in luck.
Written for the 9-12y old reader, but I thought the book was delightful as Helen discusses not only her adventures, but the things she absolutely takes when out and about. She writes about why getting outside is important and how to plot out adventures closer to home.

Positive and fun, this was a great read and I appreciate receiving an advanced reader copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Helen Skelton's book, Wild Girl: How to Have Incredible Outdoor Adventures, is one of the most engaging non-fiction books I have ever read. Reading this book is an adventure in itself! So much vibrancy, color, and enthusiasm bursts from every page! Increasing amounts of screen time have long been the enemy of experiencing the out-of-doors and COVID has only added to that problem. As the world slowly resumes some form of normalcy, Skelton's book is the perfect lure to adventure in the natural world.

The book is divided into six different types of adventures:
Adventures in the Snow
Adventures on the Sand
Adventures on the Water
Adventures in the Mountains
Adventures in the Countryside
Adventures in the City
The book is an explosion of photographs and engaging graphics as well as fun facts sprinkled throughout. Each section includes her gear list for each adventure, the preparation taken, as well as selections from her diary about each experience. I loved the additional information about the geographic area and fun facts about animals native to the area.

Each chapter closes with some suggestions for modified adventures as well as some ideas for extreme adventures (all are meant to be done with adult supervision). And one of the most fascinating parts of each chapter was the "Hall of Fame" that highlighted women who had distinguished themselves in that area. Such a great way to provide young people role models of adventure!

I asked for my teens thoughts on the book and she said, "All she's done is so impressive...This lady has grit! Good grief, I'm sore just reading it!" The author was certainly dedicated, gutsy and inspiring!

Whether you want ideas for your own future adventures or just want to experience adventure through someone else's eyes, Helen Skelton's Wild Girl is an excellent resource to kindle a spirit of adventure in anyone!

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Wild Girl from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

Wild Girl: How to Have Incredible Outdoor Adventures is an exuberant illustrated guide particularly aimed at young girls (circa teen/tween aged) for finding adventure written by TV presenter personality Helen Skelton. Originally published in the UK in 2019, this North American edition is due out 6th Oct 2020 from Candlewick Press. It's 144 pages and will be available in hardcover format (other editions available in other formats).

I enjoyed this encouraging and adventurous guide which gives young people a good and healthy role model. There is an emphasis on safety, fun, and of course adventure wherever one finds oneself - desert, forest, mountains, or city. The book contains many suggestions for having adventures, learning new skills, and trying new things. The suggestions are as varied as trying ziplining or trying new foods and new cultures. Interspersed with the encouraging mini-adventures for readers are the photos and descriptions Ms. Skelton herself experienced during her years as co-presenter on Blue Peter. which included an ultra-marathon in the desert, bicycling to the south pole, and kayaking down the Amazon.

Each of her adventures includes a description of the feat, sidebars with notes and tidbits of challenges, trivia, and interesting asides about how it felt and what she experienced. The book is graphically very appealing with an exuberant and colorful layout and lots of photos. While her suggestions for readers' own adventures aren't quite as daunting as solo kayaking 2000 miles on the Amazon, they're challenging enough. Each of them includes a description, necessary gear, training suggestions, and safety tips.

I liked very much that the book also includes a short list of other girls and women who have exceeded all expectations and rules and succeeded in their chosen sports - free running, boxing, skateboarding, wheelchair motocross, and more. Impressive. This would be a superlative gift or classroom library selection for young people (especially girls).

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the gifted copy. All thoughts are completely my own

I love the idea of this book. Teaching older (like 10ish) kids that you can have amazing outdoor adventures. Helen talks about being in Antarctica, Africa, The Amazon ect.

Helen provides a lot of advice (like how to use the bathroom in a canoe) and gives a lot of useful information. Some parts are rather wordy though.

This would be a great book for kids looking to explore more or perhaps prepare for their own future adventures. 🙂

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This is a fantastic book for girls about 'going wild'.
The author writes about different adventures she has been on starting with a trip to the South pole and what she endured, the highs and lows of her trip, what she took with her, how she trained for it, the risks involved such as hypothermia and frost bite, and displays lots of photos of her trip to accompany it.
She then moves on to write about her other adventures in different locations, environments, continents etc and writes about each one in the same kind of format.

Each of the adventures is deemed for Wild Girls and encourages children to dream about adventures like hers and how you can train and plan to do the same and what is involved.

This title is geared toward girls and poses the question, would you like to go wild?  In this instance, wild means adventures in nature and urban settings.   The book is organized by locations inviting girls to have experiences in the snow, the sand, the water, the mountains, the countryside and the city.


The author, an adventurer and TV presenter (I think in the UK), is no stranger to adventures herself.  She is an encouraging guide in this title. She shares many of her adventures in this charmingly illustrated book.  Her first adventures have to do with travel to the poles.  She then invites girls to have adventures closer to home, for example going sledding, ice skating or having snowball fights.  She also encourages skiing, snowboarding, kite skiing and more.  The book then continues through each of the other environments.


this book is nicely laid out and full of many adventures.  Hopefully its readers will get outside (away from screens) and engage in some of what the world has to offer.


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

The author sets out to describe several of her incredible outdoor adventures. Her goal is to describe her adventures, struggles, and show girls ways they can have similar adventures themselves. It is organized by type of adventure, what it took to get there, and pros and cons. She then goes on to share famous women who have excelled in this type of activity and ways girls could participate in similar activities.

I loved this book. It was beautifully laid out. I loved the way she pointed out all the hard work each one took and her decisions to persevere (or not) and what she learned from those experiences. It was definitely written with a growth mindset perspective. She has had so many fun adventures. The ideas for kids to get involved were on point—accessible and challenging. I know my own girls are going to love this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Candelwick Press for this free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.